Nanotechnology on a Global Scale

Miguel Yacaman is the author of numerous books and articles. He is a world-renowned expert in the field of nanotechnology.

But his biggest achievement has made history at UTSA. Yacaman is in charge of the first aberration-corrected electron microscope in the United States and only the second of its kind in the world.

The multimillion dollar instrument is housed in Yacaman’s UTSA lab and can be used remotely by researchers all over the world. It is powerful enough to clearly show the makeup of an atom and can be used across multiple disciplines, from architecture to zoology.

Protecting Our Health and Security

Karl Klose and a team of researchers are closer to developing a suitable vaccine to combat the deadly tularemia infection, or rabbit fever.

The infection is caused by Francisella tularensis, which is thought to be found in animals, especially rodents and rabbits. Humans are exposed through bites from infected ticks and flies, handling infected animals, ingesting contaminated food or water, or by inhalation, therefore causing great concern that F. tularensis could be used as a bioweapon. In fact, the federal Centers for Disease Control have classified it as an agent with the highest potential to be used as a biological weapon.

Klose is collaborating with researchers at the Burnham Institute for Medical Records, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and Thomas Jefferson University to protect against this public threat.